Container



April 1966 c. ALEXANDER 3,244,330

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 10. 1962 INVE'NTOR.

CZ #005 L/V/A GS 70/V fllE/Vl/VDEE United States Patent 3,244,330 CGNTAINER Claude Livingston Alexander, Bernardsville, N..l., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Get. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 229,676 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) The present invention relates broadly to collapsible plastic containers, and is more particularly directed to a container structure featuring therein new and improved means for markedly reducing product back fiow occasioned by reversion of the resilient container body to essentially its former shape upon relaxation of the squeezing force applied thereto.

Collapsible containers molded or otherwise formed of polyolefins and other plastic materials are currently being employed for a wide variety of product applications. A popular use which is illustrative of the problem overcome by the present invention is in the packaging of liquid cosmetological preparations, although it will be manifest as the description proceeds that the container conceived by applicant is of utility with any liquid formulation having a viscosity such that reverse flow tends to occur when the dispensing pressure applied to the resilient container is relaxed.

Conventional plastic tubes, wherefrom a product of cream-like consistency is exuded through a neck portion having a uniform diameter bore, disadvantageously exhibit the characteristic of reverse product flow or suckback by reason of the differential between atmospheric pressure and the internal pressure within the tube. In other words, when the user of the tube relaxes the finger pressure applied to the tube body, as when sufiicient product has been dispensed, a suction effect takes place.

The plastic tube body, by virtue of its inherent resiliency, makes what may be regarded as a spontaneous recovery when the squeezing pressure is relaxed, causing residual or undispensed product in the tube neck and upper regions of the tube body to be drawn or sucked into the more distant regions of the container. This is unsatisfactory to the consumer for many reasons. First, since the contents of the tube under the condition stated may now be some distance removed from the dispensing orifice, repeated squeezing of a kneading action may be required to advance the product toward the orifice. This is laborious and time-consuming, and if the tube body is opaque, as is often the case, repeated squeezings frequently result in the expulsion of more product than desired.

Then too, through inadvertence the container closure is often not replaced when dispensing is completed. Since by the suction effect mentioned at least the tube neck passage is void, the contents within the container body are exposed to the drying effect of atmosphere.

One approach to the suck-back problem has been the use of a cap with standup capabilities to permit the tube contents to drain back into the neck when the tube was not in use. This expedient, however, introduces packaging design problems if an exterior carton is desired, and further requires substantial distance between shelves for storage, as well as markedly increasing the cap costs.

Additionally it has been proposed as an answer to the suck-back problem to equip the tube neck with a flapper valve, or as an alternative, to surmount the dispensing orifice with a conically shaped member having slits therein. Such constructions are costly to produce, and as well, the intended one-way valving action is generally ultimately rendered inoperative by dried product.

In accordance with the novel concepts of this invention reverse product flow is markedly reduced, if not substantially eliminated, by forming in the product fiow passage communicating the tube body interior with the dis- 3,244,339 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 pensing orifice one or more restricted openings which effectively reduce the pressure drop between atmosphere and the tube interior as the resilient tube body assumes essentially its former shape upon relaxation of squeezing pressures. A tube structure suited for accomplishment of this purpose may take various forms, and illustratively the tube neck portion in the region of the base thereof may be bridged by a passaged diaphragm, or the neck portion during the molding thereof may be formed to provide a convergent inlet which communicates with the interior of the tube body through a throat, whereby the surfaces defining the product fiow path partake of a Venturi configuration.

Regardless of the particular manner in which the invention is practiced, the provision of a restricted product flow passage in the upper end portion or head region of the tube results in a reduced pressure differential between atmosphere and the tube interior, as compared with prior art structures, during the time interval in which tube body relaxation is taking place after removal of the squeezing force. This prevents substantial suck-back and provides in the tube neck a quantity of undispensed product available for immediate emission when the tube body is again squeezed. And should the tube cap not be restored to the container neck, this same body of undispensed product eiiectively functions. as a barrier against air entry to the main body of product, preventing it from drying out during non-use.

It is accordingly a primary aim of the present invention to provide a container of novel construction which effectively minimizes the discussed problem of reverse product flow.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of a collapsible plastic container featuring therein new and mproved means for markedly reducing product back flow occasioned by reversion of the resilient container body to essentially its former shape upon relaxation of squeezing pressures applied thereto.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a collapsible container having a resilient body portion characterized by the ability to return to its former shape upon relaxation of squeezing pressures, the body portion mounting at one end an integral neck portion, and the container featuring within its interior means defining a restricted passage disposed in the path of product flow from said body portion to said neck portion for minimizing reverse product flow when said squeezing pressures are relaxed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, partloularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numeralsare employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, a portion thereof being removed and another portion being taken in section, showing one form of container constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevational views, taken partly in section, and illustrative of additional embodiments of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial top plan View of the tube structure of FIGURE 4.

Designated in its entirety by the numeral 10 in FIG- URE 1 is a first illustrative embodiment of the invention. The collapsible dispensing container shown therein embodies a tubular body portion 11 of relatively thin wall construction closed at one end by heat sealing or other suitable techniques, to provide a marginal seam 12. The tube body 11 may be formed by extrusion, injection molding or blow molding, however, the presently preferred manufacturing. procedure is to extrude a tubular sleeve and to then form and fuse to the sleeve a head piece 13 in accordance with the teachings in Strahm Patent No. 2,673,374.

The head piece may be seen to be of substantially greater wall thickness as compared with the tube body 11, and includes a breast portion 14 and upstanding neck portion 15 which is externally threaded at 16 to receive mating threads 17 on the interior of skirt portion 18 of a cap or closure member 19. As is apparent, a threaded connection may be supplanted by a locking bead and groove arrangement to provide a snap-in-place engagement if desired for certain applications.

Formed during practice of the heading technique disclosed in the mentioned Strahm patent, and effective as one means for controlling reverse product flow, is a transverse wall or diaphragm member 20 having one or more restricted passages 21 provided therein. The wall member in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 is shown as integrated with the juncture of the tube neck and breast portions, although obviously it can be located solely within the tube neck or could bridge the breast portion axially inwardly of the precise location illustrated.

Regardless of the exact positioning of the diaphragm 20, this member defines interiorly of the container a first or main product chamber 22 communicating through the restricted passages 21 with a second or auxiliary product chamber 23. Product P during filling through the open end of the tube prior to effecting the seam 12 occupies essentially the entire main chamber 22, and when squeezing pressures are applied to the tube body 11 after removal of the closure 19, the product flows through the restricted passages 21 and fills the auxiliary chamber 23 prior to expulsion from the dispensing orifice or mouth of the tube.

However, by provision of the diaphragm and the restricted flow paths formed therethrou-gh, when the squeezing pressure is relaxed a substantially reduced pressure differential results between atmosphere and the tube interior, in contrast with the difierential existing with the conventional resilient container. In the present instance a very minor reverse product flow may occur if the squeezing pressure is suddenly or rapidly relaxed, however, some product will remain in the tube neck even under these conditions. Such residual prod-uct is then available for immediate dispensing when the tube is again used, and if the capshould not be reapplied, this same product effectively functions as an air barrier to prevent drying of the product in the main tube body.

In the form of the invention just described, and in the additional embodiments now to be discussed, the tube body 11 may be constructed 'of any resilient plastic material having the characteristic when of relatively thin wall thicknesses of returning to essentially its former shape upon relaxation of squeezing pressures applied thereto. Polyethylene is suitable for this purpose, although in substitution therefor polyamides, polyesters, vinyl polymers and copolymers, polymers of vinylidene chloride, and polypropylene and its copolymers may be used. The cap or closure 19 may be of the same or different materials.

The auxiliary product chamber 23 in FIGURE 1 may be noted to be of generally cylindrical configuration, however, excessive reverse product flow can also be avoided when the tube neck portion is interiorly contoured to a tunnel-like or inwardly convergent shape as appears in FIGURE 2. A collapsible dispensing container in this embodiment features a relatively thinwalled body portion 31, of the same character described in connection with FIGURE I, headed or molded to provide a relatively thicker breast portion 32 mounting in upstanding relation an externally threaded neck portion 33 having an inwardly convergent entrant portion or auxiliary product chamber 34 which communicates with the tube body interior or main product chamber 35 through a -,reduced diameter passage or throat 36, The

product chambers 34 and 35 in combination with the throat 36 may thus be seen to partake of a Venturi configuration, and this arrangement in common with the structure of FIGURE 1 is highly elfective in providing a reduced pressure drop and consequent marked reduction in product suckback after the squeezing pressure has been relaxed.

It may at times be desired to have a reduced wall thickness in the tube neck portion in order to facilitate the expulsion of any dried product therein, as by employing a kneading action thereon. FIGURE 3 is illustrative of a structure effective for this purpose and a container 40 as shown therein has a resilient body portion 41 connecting through an integral breast portion 42 with an annular neck portion 43 supporting interiorly thereof an integrally molded product flow control member 44 having an inwardly convergent or general funnel shape substantially corresponding to the embodiment of FIG- URE 2. The member 44- thereby defines along its inner surfaces an auxiliary product chamber 45 and restricted passage or throat 46 which communicate with the tube body interior or main product chamber 47. The structure of FIGURE 3 functions in essentially the same manner as the form of FIGURE 2 in eliminating excessive product back flow, but has the further advantage of per-' mitting ready removal of product which may dry there in by failure to restore the cap to position during a period of tube non-use. Thus, in the arrangement of FIGURE 3, a simple kneading action will loosen the residual product and permit the same to he popped out of the member 44.

A product flow control member embodying the novel concepts of this invention also finds important appli cations as an integral part of a container designed to dispense a paste product with circumferentially spaced axially extending bands of a different color along the exterior of the product ribbon being dispensed. An embodiment featuring these capabilities is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, and upon reference thereto it is to be noted that applicant has provided a collapsible container 50 comprised of a resilient body portion 51 headed with an integral breast portion 52 which mounts an annular upstanding neck portion 53. Depending interiorly of the tube neck 53, and integrally molded to the mouth end thereof, is a product flow control member generally designated at 54.

The member 54 features a convergent entrant portion 55 and a tubular restricted portion 56 which in combination define interiorly an auxiliary product chamber 57 communicating with a main chamber 58 containing product P-l. The convergent or generally funnel-shaped entrant portion 56 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 59 providing flow paths for product P-Z contained in chamber 60 defined between the flow control member 54 and inner surfaces of the tube neck and breast portions, this same chamber being further defined by a disc 61 separating product P-1 and product P2 prior to expulsion from the container 50. The disc is preferably maintained in the position shown by a snap connection, and the tubular portion 56 of the member 54 may be exteriorly grooved as shown for this purpose.

The container of FIGURES 4 and 5 has first filled therein from its open end product P2, which may be of a color contrasting with the product P-l or in some other respects differing therefrom. The disc 61 is then snapped into position and product P-1 introduced into chamber 58 through the tube open end, which is then sealed in the manner shown at 12 in FIGURE 1. Upon; the application of squeezing pressures to the flexible reformable tube body 51 following removal of the con tainer cap, product P-l flows from the chamber 58, through the restricted member 56 and into the in-. wardly convergent portion 55 whereat the product P1 merges with product P-2 simultaneously issuing from the;

openings 59 which communicate with the chamber 60. As is believed apparent, the disc 61 is quite thin and of substantial flexibility so that squeezing pressures applied to the tube body have the effect of outwardly bowing or flexing the disc sufficiently to extrude product P2 through the orifices 59. As is also thought to be now quite clear, the flow control member 54 functions in the manner of the related arrangements in FIGURES 1 to 3 to reduce the pressure differential between atmosphere and the tube interior during the period when the tube body is reverting to its former shape after removal of squeezing pressures thereto, effectively eliminating excessive product back flow and providing a structure having important advantages herein discussed in detail.

Various forms of the invention have been disclosed, and these and other modifications may of course be effected without departing from the novel concepts of the instant invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible dispensing container, comprising a relatively thin wall flexible body, a breast of increased wall thickness integrally molded to said body, and an upstanding neck on said breast, said neck having an interior wall converging inwardly from the outer end of said neck toward the juncture of said neck and breast and defining a funnel shaped passage within said neck, said converging wall terminating at the base of said neck in a restricted orifice which opens directly into the interior of said body, said passage and orifice providing a Venturi-like flow control member for minimizing reverse product flow when squeezing pressures applied to said body are relaxed,

2. A collapsible dispensing container, comprising a relatively thin wall fiexible body, a breast of increased wall thickness integrally molded to said body, an upstanding neck on said breast having an interior inwardly convergent wall terminating in a depending tubular wall of restricted diameter substantially Within said neck, said convergent and tubular walls defining a flow restriction member for minimizing reverse product flow when squeezing pressures applied to said body are relaxed, said convergent wall having a plurality of openings therein to permit the application of a different material to the product as it is dispensed through said neck.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,396 10/1925 Boehrs 222564 1,740,287 12/1929 Davis 222566 X 1,760,773 5/1930 Penny 222564 X 2,042,836 6/1936 Friden 222575 X 2,159,171 5/1939 McCorkhill 222564 X 2,207,834 7/1940 Stern 222215 X 2,252,542 8/1941 Beeh 222207 X 2,682,974 7/1954 Smith 222107 2,690,181 9/1954 Boyer 222215 X 2,758,755 8/1956 Schafler 222215 X 2,925,938 2/1960 Parsons 22294 3,094,250 6/1963 Molyneaux et al. 222207 3,179,299 4/1965 Allegraud et al. 222207 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

C. R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSING CONTAINER, COMPRISING A RELATIVELY THIN WALL FLEXIBLE BODY, A BREAST OF INCREASED WALL THICKNESS INTEGRALLY MOLDED TO SAID BODY, AND AN UPSTANDING NECK ON SAID BREAST, SAID NECK HAVING AN INTERIOR WALL CONVERGING INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER END OF SAID NECK TOWARD THE JUNCTURE OF SAID NECK AND BREAST AND DEFINING A FUNNEL SHAPED PASSAGE WITHIN SAID NECK, SAID CONVERGING WALL TERMINATING AT THE BASE OF SAID NECK IN A RESTRICTED ORIFICE WHICH OPENS DIRECTLY INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY, SAID PASSAGE AND ORIFICE PROVIDING A VENTURI-LIKE FLOW CONTROL MEMBER FOR MINIMIZING REVERSE PRODUCE FLOW WHEN SQUEEZING PRESSURES APPLIED TO SAID BODY ARE RELAXED. 